Automatic siphon-regulator.



c. H. HENDERSON. AUTOMATIC SIPHON REGULATOR.

APPLICATION HLED MAY 22, 1916.

1,235,3 1 6; I Patented July 31, 1917.

WITNESSES INVENTOR (2% C/mr/es H. Henderson A TTOfi N E Y CHARLES H. HENDERSON, 0]? PORT ORCHARD, WASHINGTON.

AUTOMATIC SIPHON-REGULATOR.

Application filed May 22, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. CHARLES H. HENDER- sox, a citizen of the United States, residing at Port Orchard, in the county of Kitsap and State of l/Vashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Au tomatic Siphon-Regulators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic siphon regulators, and its object is to provide efficient means whereby the flow of liquid through the siphon is controlled by the height of the liquid in a vessel into which the siphon discharges, so that the liquid in the vessel will be maintained at a substantially uniform level.

The invention consists in the novel construction, adaptation and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing I show a view, partly in vertical section and partly in elevation, of a structure embodying this invention.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates a liquid reservoir and 2 a receptacle, herein shown as the bowl of a lamp, into which liquid to a predetermined height is to be siphoned from the reservoir.

Said reservoir is shown as a bottle having a neck 3 within which is a stopper 4 that is provided with apertures through which extend a siphon tube 5, a vent tube 6 and an air inlet pipe 7.

The siphon tube 5 extends upwardly from near the bottom of the reservoir through the stopper 4, and thence downwardly through an opening 8 in the receptacle 2. The receptacle opening 8 is of sufficient size to afiord a passageway about the tube 5 and pipe 7 for the admission of air from the external atmosphere into said receptacle.

The vent tube 6 extends upwardly from near the top of the reservoir through the stopper f and thence downwardly into the receptacle and terminates therein in the plane (as 9-9) at which the liquid is to be maintained.

The vent tube 6 has included in its length a shut-off valve or a piece of flexible tubing 10.

The air pipe 7 extends upwardly from within said reservoir, is provided with a stop-cock 11 and, in the illustrated embodiment, terminates in a rubber bulb 12 of wellknown form of construction having a non- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 1917.

Serial No. 99,208.

return air inlet valve 14: on the top side thereof.

In operation, oil or other liquid is placed in the reservoir 1, the stop cock 11 is opened, the tube 10 is squeezed between the operators fingers to close the air vent tube 6, and the bulb 12 is manipulated to afford a pressure of air in the reservoir somewhat greater than that of the external atmosphere. Such air pressure acting on the liquid surface in the reservoir starts a flow of liquid through the siphon tube 5 from the reservoir into the receptacle.

As soon as the liquid has thus been started to flow, the stop cook 11 is closed and the tube 10 is released for the admission of air under atmospheric pressure through the vent 6 to above the liquid in the reservoir. The liquid will then by a siphoning action continue to flow until the receptacle is supplied with liquid to the plane 99, thereby sealing the lower end of the vent tube 6 and stopping the admission of air to the reservoir, with a consequent interruption in the action of the siphon.

When this occurs, the siphon tube 5 remains filled with the liquid.

When the liquid in the receptacle 2 has been lowered below the level 9-9 to expose the lower end of the vent tube 6, the flow of air therethrough into the reservoir will again take place, with a resumption of the liquid flow therefrom until the body of liquid is replenished in the receptacle to again seal the vent tube.

In the manner above described, it is apparent that the liquid in said receptacle is automatically kept at a practically constant level, which is determined by the elevation of the lower end of the vent pipe within the receptacle.

While I have shown and described my siphoning apparatus as applied to an oil reservoir and a lamp, it will be understood that it is well adapted for other applications wherein it is desired to maintain liquid in a receiving vessel at a substantially constant level.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters-Patent is 1. In apparatus of the class described, an air-tight liquid reservoir, an open liquid receptacle, a siphon connecting said reservoir and said receptacle, an air vent tube communicating with the upper portion of said reservoir and terminating at a predetermined high liquid level in said receptacle, a flexible tubular element included in said air vent tube and adapted to be compressed to temporarily prevent the passage of air through the vent tube, and means for supplying air under pressure into said reservoir.

2. In apparatus of the class described, an airtight liquid reservoir, a liquid receptacle, a siphon a vent pipe extending,- through an opening in said receptacle sulliciently large to admit air into the receptacle from the external atmosphere, said vent pipe tl'n1lnftt ing in an open end adapted to be disposed at a predetermined level within said receptacle whereby the open end of said vent pipe will be submerged and sealed by liquid rising above such level, means provided in said vent pipe for manually closing the same, an air inlet pipe in the top of said reservoir, and means connected with said pipe fer delivering air under pressure into said reservoir.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 8th day of May, 1916.

cnainins n. rinnnnnson.

Witnesses PIERRE Barnes, E. PETERSON.

Copies, at this patent may be obtained fer five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 3. G 

